I’ve read this book several times, and I love it every time. I especially like reading it with my kids. It is a wonderful book about character, hard work, and making the best of situations. I’m always impressed by how much work and responsibility young Ralph Moody has at such a young age.
This book is the memoir of Ralph Moody, the author, who is barely eight-years-old in 1907 as the story opens. He and his family live in New Hampshire before being invited to move to Fort Logan, Colorado by Cousin Phil to become ranchers. The Moodys make the move and start life in the West.
The house on the ranch ended up being a tumbledown shack. Ralph’s parents, though sorely disappointed, decided to make the best of the situation. They fix up the house and go about becoming ranchers.
One of my favorite characters in the book is Ralph’s father, Charlie. He teaches Ralph many lessons in a powerful, non-preachy way. My favorite lesson is when Charlie teaches Ralph about his “Character-House”. Ralph tells his mom a fib in order to be able to ride their new horse and haul logs. Well, hauling logs with the untried horse proves harder than Ralph thought it would be. After a bit of trouble, he comes home to face his disappointed mother. She has Ralph stand in the corner until his father comes home. When Charlie gets home, he teaches Ralph about his Character-House. His father tells him that Ralph or the horse could have been physically injured by Ralph’s mischief, however, the injury to Ralph’s character is much worse than any physical injury. Charlie compares a man’s character to a house: When a man does something he shouldn’t do, it’s like tearing the boards off his house until it is in ruins.
There are many great adventures and lessons to be learned in this wonderful book. It is a must read.
